Life, 1929-07-05 · page 15 of 41
Life — July 5, 1929 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is an educational chart titled "Life's Little Educational Charts: The French Language at a Glance." It's a humorous guide using absurdist French phrases paired with whimsical illustrations. The page teaches French through puns and wordplay based on French names. Examples include "La Gyrofouesse" (One Who Will Read Most Anywhere), "Le Poupадoul" (A Giraffe Trap), and "Un Noinculpine" (A Philadelphia Postman nickname). The satire mocks both French language instruction methods and stereotypical French culture. Rather than teaching practical vocabulary, it creates nonsensical definitions for made-up or real French words, illustrating them with absurd scenarios—a man in a boat, figures boxing, a camel, and various animals. The humor targets the pretentiousness of language-learning materials while poking fun at French affectation popular in American magazines of this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Le “GY ROPOUESSE” (One Who Will Read Most Anywhere) Le “GOUTLOIQE” (A Candle in a Window for a Wayward Son) &, _——— Le (A Vi Le “ABOUMOU- RIERE” (An Habitual Maker of Echoes) Un ‘NOIXULPINE” (A Nickname for a Philadelphia Postman) BAN g.. — Gr: “POUPADOUP” (A Giraffe Trap) “ DEMI-CHOUX" (Position No. 1 in a Game of BEANS PORRIDGE HOT) fete (A Gent Who Wears Thim- bles and Is Proud of it) Ze “PLEUPLEUR- PLO . QUIS (A Collapsible May-Pole) [3 “LA CHAX” (A Cat Who Had Kittens on the Virgin Islands) Wi! i. hi “ULUILE” | (A Sort-of- a Wart on- a Rock) if |} UN Gave" ., ]I]], (One Who Bobs uit for Green Apples) { cen Oe = — ; Le yO “ENTREUISSMIGIST” “vin (A Two-Fanged Worm) |< FR. ‘ Life’s Little Educational Charts The French Language at a Glance “SPINGOISE” ice-Pres. of a Meringue La “COOCOO- VACHE” (A Cow with an Enigmatical Smile) (A_ Professional Thicketeer) la t] “BAMBOULIERE” (A Trysting Place for Turtles) “PACHEOIX” (A Box for Emer- gency Boxing Gloves) comicbooks.com